NAFA's New England Chapter Gets Down To The CSA BASICs

NAFA's New England Chapter got down to BASICs at their February 19 meeting, and to be in accordance with Department of Transportation rules, you would do well to do likewise.

Keith Barrows, Staples Inc. Director - Global Health & Safety, provided an interesting overview of the DOT CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) for the meeting. The session was held at Staples' corporate office in Framingham, MA. He clearly presented how the CSA program will impact Fleets now and in the potential future. The components of the CSA system -- data collection, safety measurement, safety evaluation, and intervention -- were reviewed.

The seven "BASICs" (Behavioral Analysis & Safety Improvement Categories) need to be understood now if your company has a DOT number for any vehicles.

Unsafe Driving: Speeding, following too close, texting while driving
Hours of Service Compliance: Log violations, driving
Driver Fitness: Not having proper license or endorsement, not having valid medical card
Controlled Substances and Alcohol
Vehicle Maintenance: Cargo secured, equipment inspections, and maintenance regulations
Hazardous Materials Compliance: Handling, securing, and documentation of hazardous materials
Crash Indicator: Documents and tracks DOT-recordable crashes for both drivers and carriers

Barrows emphasized it’s in a fleet professional's best interest to understand what the BASICS are, how they are scored, and what the scores mean to your company and your drivers.

Special thanks to New England Chapter Chair Kevin F. O'Loughlin for material in this article.

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